It’s pedal to the metal today with no real direction, so you’ve been warned!

Did I tell you guys we went to Houston last month?

I probably didn’t because not only was it a whirlwind trip, but the Sooners lost and we didn’t do anything exciting.

In fact, we drove the 8 hour trip Friday and did it again Sunday. Whew! It was tiring!

Mostly for Will, as he drove the entire time because I’m a terrible driver he prefers to drive.

Anyway, I anticipated being a terrible copilot, as I have a hard time staying occupied in contained spaces.

I did surprisingly well! I think it’s because I’ve taken a few longer car trips in the last two years. I saved up tons of magazines and blogs to read along the way, and listened to a ton of podcasts I’d been saving.

Plus we had a free trial of XM radio, so Will could listen to sports while I self-occupied.

A win for everyone.

Until he found the Garth Brooks channel.

That was not a win for everyone.

What also wasn’t a win, was the game.

No need to talk about it other than the fact that we sat in front of Houston fans and I had beer spilled on me not once, but twice.

I thought Will was going to become completely unhinged the first time it happened, but I was wrong. He came unhinged the second time.

Sigh.

Sadly we had big plans to eat a nice dinner at Shula’s and enjoy the town but we were both exhausted from the long day of driving and then the loss took the wind out of our sails. We ended up eating at the hotel restaurant watching more college football.

So yeah! Fun times in Houston! Haha

Since we’re still (sort of) talking football...

Will and I decided to make a football season bucket list this year with all sorts of random ways to maximize our most favorite time of year.

This season goes too fast, and we felt it was a good way to enjoy it all the more.

Nothing fancy, but still fun.

We started with an impromptu date night to our local Applebee’s last Friday.

If you’ve seen the commercials, you know they do half-priced appetizers after 9:00.

We thought it would be fun to do a VERY late dinner (on a very long side note- I love the idea of late dinners. They seem so sophisticated and glamorous compared to our usual AARP early bird dinnertime. With that said, though, I am always famished early in the evening and could never make it to a 9:00 dinner without some major preplanning. I’m such a granny) and watch some of the OSU-TCU game.

Except…

We were both super hungry and ready to eat when we got there only to find out half price appetizers begin at 9:00 Monday through Thursday but 10:00 Friday through Sunday.

Real life.

The good news is that dinner worked out better for me! I ate far healthier ordering off the regular menu than the appetizer menu.

Turned out to be a great night! Albeit a super casual dinner in our comfy clothes, it still seemed “glamorous” since I made it to 9:00. 😊

So yeah...one checked off the list, more to go!

Annnnd we had another snake in our house

Real life guys.

We have a for sale sign in the house now, incase you’re wondering.

(Kidding...kind of)

This time, Will didn’t dilly-dally taking care of the snake.

It was promptly removed.

We’ll leave it at that.

Since we mentioned for sale signs...

You may remember, my parents live two doors down from me.

Only, at the end of September they sold their house and are moving up to the nesrby town where my sister lives.

I’ve taken it hard don’t want to get into it. Just mentioning it for posterity sake. I’m also going to miss seeing Layla so much! It’s always been so nice having her so close so often.

So yeah- there’s that! Here’s to hoping the new neighbors don’t mind me using their better wifi… #awkward.

Mrs. Benko would be proud

Waaay back in the 19 hundred and 90s (haha), I took piano lessons.

Real life.

Yes, they had pianos back then.

Anyway, I loved it at first. My young brain soaked up the scales, show tunes, and silly songs. However when I got into junior high, I started to hate it.

It seemed like a drag. It was work. I never practiced.

One thing led to another, and I stopped.

Flash forward many years later.

When my parents moved, they offered to give my my old Clavinova, which I obliged.

Why do I feel this isn’t going to be like riding a bike?

It’s fried jello time ya’ll

Well friends, it’s fair time. The Oklahoma state fair just wrapped up, with the Texas State Fair around the corner.

As usual, the menu is full of delicious fried concoctions that make my heart race just thinking about it.

I apologize to anyone I’ve texted in the the last two weeks. It’s been death by GIF. It’s like the junior high video game loving boy inside me has found an outlet in the form of annoying moving pictures to convey EVERYTHING!

Other things
The Lord has continued to impress some things on my heart to the point where I just have to say something, darn it. I plan on tackling those things in another post.

I didn’t even touch workouts or new music either, but I figure this is more than enough for a Thursday things. I suppose I can always do another one next week, yes? 😉

Just like me, these women were already looking ahead, worried about something ahead of time. They were concerned how they’d get to Jesus since there was a stone in front of the grave, far too heavy for them to remove.

I’m not concerned about literal stones these days, but metaphoric ones.

Maybe you are, too?

If only these women remembered the provision of Jesus.

Not only did He roll away that stone they were concerned about, but He raised them eternal life by conquering death!

He always makes provisions for the glory of His name.

We must remember this Truth.

If it is in accordance with His word, it will be done.

We need not worry He won’t move if our requests align with His word. He always, always, always rolls away the stone.

The season we must endure to get to the most wonderful time of the year (so much for carpe diem eh? Haha)

And we're nearly there!

Though I must say, this summer was particularly busy and full of good things.

As summer winds down, I thought it'd be a good opportunity to share all the overwhelmingly exciting regular summer stuff we've been up to.

Starting with the Olympics.

And how it basically consumed our lives for two weeks.

Which is kind of weird considering we've been married through several Olympic Games.

While we've always watched them to some degree in the past, this time we DVR-ed everything and watched hours of footage each night.

I think we're getting old.

We watched water polo and synchronized swimming, y'all.

And liked it. (Okay, mostly me, not Will)

We're getting old and odd.

HELP.

While we're getting old and nostalgic...

During the height of summer, when all the fall shows are on hiatus, TV is slow going at the B-Love house.

We decided to pull out our old Frasier box sets and have diligently watched them all summer.

We're already on season 8!

It's one of Will's favorites.

We've also picked up watching The Andy Griffith Show, which we often do during the summer.

Told you we were old.

Will belongs in Mayberry. Sometimes I think he was born in the wrong era. Then I realize what a gem it is to have such a rare "Oak tree" kind of guy, and am thankful the spirit of Mayberry is still thriving in people like Will.

We also pulled out our old copy of Duplex. Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore started in it and it is absolutely hilarious.

I don't know if it kills me so much because we had a condo and shared walls with neighbors on both sides and can relate to some of the things that happen in the movie?

It could be that, but I honestly think it's just plain funny.

Do yourself a favor and watch it. I'm not kidding, tears streamed down my face even after watching it a dozen times before.

They still get around great for doggie senior citizens, which is very encouraging.

Although, Boz did bump into a wall the other day, and Lucy has to be let down multiple times each night to go potty...

Nonetheless I still consider them my baby pups, running into walls and all!

MOHs
So it's been just over a year since my MOHs surgery. I'm thankful to have it behind me. The scar has healed nicely and is a lot less noticeable.

Lesson from this scare? WEAR SUNSCREEN.

Hot Pockets

To celebrate Will's 36th birthday last month, we went to Tulsa to see Jim Gaffigan.

It was such a fun day!

There's a restaurant there named Los Cabos that we love, so that's where we started our afternoon for a delicious early dinner.

Afterward, we drove around and went by Will's late grandma Stella's house. It was a nice memory. It was comforting to see that the house was still fairly well maintained.

Then we headed to the Bok Center for the show.

Jim Gaffigan was so funny!

He ended the show with his famous "Hot Pockets" bit, which had everyone roaring. It was such a good night, and we had a wonderful time.

Other out and about highlights

Summer is generally dull for me and Will, but this summer was a rather colorful anomaly.

Between holidays, multiple birthday celebrations (Layla 💗, Will's grandpa's 90th, and Will) a wedding, other family functions, plus other random events, we were busier than usual throughout the entire summer.

I had multiple coffee outings with friends, dinner with blogger Marisa and her beautiful family, got to meet my precious dear friend's brand new baby, went to the Hilsong United concert, and even reconnected with some old work friends.

Whew.

It's been a busy summer, and we are cruising into an even busier football season.

Which reminds me-

FOOTBALL!!!

Oh.My.Stars.

It's here, finally here!

Will and I transform into different people this time of year. Real life.

Plus, I think things are better in general- cooler temperatures, beautiful changing leaves, pumpkin everything, and the best holidays right around the corner.

We kick off the college season with a challenging opener against Houston... in Houston.

It will be a serious test, and I am excited to see how our boys handle it.

The first home game will also be great because it's the big reveal of the first phase of stadium renovations.

Will and I also have a pro fantasy dynasty were doing together again this year, which will be fun.

I think he uses it as a tool to keep me interested in all of pro football, not just the Colts and Packers.

I'm not sure it's working?

We shall see. 😊

Workout Challenge!

In addition to returning to work because of my former (but now current 😊)boss, one of the people I missed the most at my old job was my "work dad."

We started a workout challenge that will run though the rest of the year.

I have a binder to log my workouts and everything. Ha!

It's been motivating and has helped keep me on track.

I'm hitting the gym to lift heavier weights twice a week (one upper, one lower), and the rest of my workouts are done at home with bodyweight or lighter dumbbells.

I don't use the full Volu-Firm line and stick to the basic Timewise set, but when they discontinued one of their Timewise night creams, I bought the Volu-Firm night treatment instead and will never go back.

I'm running a special for that and their eyelash primer, and I'd love to send you some!

I wasn't completely in love with their eyelash primer until I used it for a few weeks. My lashes are noticeably longer, stronger, and healthier- which makes them even better with mascara.

I bought half a bushel of peaches last month, and ate all of them in two weeks.

Real life.

A portion went to a peach cobbler, but the rest?

All mine.

Unhealthy indulgence

For some awful reason Will took it upon himself to buy two boxes of PopTarts.

Whyyyyyy!?!?!

It's been several years since I've eaten one, and usually I'd say they're overrated.

Only... That wasn't the case at all. I ended up having not one, but two packages (Read:half the box) of the frosted cherry ones.

I've always been a sucker for those.

Such a grownup.

I thought we were behind this nonsense....but I came home today and he had purchased a 10 pack.

Because he hates me.

I think P and I might actually plan a trip to Chicago with Layla! (who started pre-k last week😩) !

Some of our best sister memories were spent there, and it would be so fun to see the city in a whole new light alongside Layla.

Church Clothes
As far as updates on my spiritual walk, it's been a winding road.

(Doesn't it often seem like that?)

This season of life, which I consider the last year and a half, has been full of lots of faith stretching.

Yet through all of it, I've seen the Lord's hand in countless ways.

Sometimes in blatant answers to prayer, where He has blessed in abundance.

Other times in blatant answers to prayer whereby He does the opposite of what I was expecting so clearly that even in the sadness of a situation going another way, His peace sustains me.

It's been one answer after another. Blessing after blessing, grace upon grace.

Things haven't gone how I anticipated, yet I continue to trust.

I still can't see how this chapter is going to end, but I know He does and continue to walk in Him step by step, day after day. Praying His word and seeking His will.

I finished Priscilla Schirer's Armor of God study and would definitely recommend it. I don't usually do studies and prefer to dig into the Word and use commentaries, but I did this one with a friend and it was a big blessing. The only disappointment was the last week. For some reason they took a deep dive into all the pieces except for the Sword of the Spirit, which is pretty important if you ask me! Anyway, other than that piece missing, it was a great summer study.

Will and I are also praying about finding true and meaningful biblical community around us. This journey has been disheartening to say the least. I wish I could round up some of you who I know are deep in the Lord and invite you over! Jesus placed such emphasis on sincere love for the body of believers and how we are family, and I am praying for that, so hopefully in the coming months there will be more developments in this area!

That's a wrap...for now
What an update! I'd say you're thoroughly caught up with me- but now it's your turn. What's new with you??

I decided it was a good time to check in and share all the newsworthy life things that have been going on lately.

Let’s just jump in, with no rhyme or reason.

The new (old) job

The new (old) job has been going well.

Working close to home has been unbelievably nice. I can come home for lunch, I have no traffic, no commute, and get to sleep longer since the drive is so short!

I’m not gonna lie, I miss the every other Fridays off. However, I love having a shorter work day. The days would drag on at my old job, which made everything but that one Friday off feel like an eternity. Something can definitely be said about having a regular work schedule and getting home at a decent time. That’s important too.

As mentioned before, I also have the best boss ever who genuinely cares, which makes a huge difference.

We travelled to the DC area for work last week so I could meet the team I’m working with and get a rundown on everything I’m taking on.

So yeah, that’s the work update!

Speaking of traveling

We kicked off June in crazy fashion!

Aside from football season, our lives are pretty uneventful from week to week.

So to have two major events jam packed into a single weekend was darn near overload for the B-Love house. Haha

June began with a wedding in Tulsa Saturday night.

We got up early that day and headed up for lunch at Los Cabos. It’s a delicious casual Mexican restaurant in the Tulsa area.

Afterward, it was off to a furniture store to look at a piece we’ve wanted to buy but wasn’t in stock in OKC.

We bought the piece and headed to the hotel where all Will’s family was staying.

It was so very nice to see that side of the family! We don’t see his dad’s side nearly as often as we see his mom’s side. It was so good to catch up and see everyone. We really ought to do it more often!

We got ready and watched Will’s cousin get hitched. It was beautiful.

We stayed at the reception about an hour but left before they even cut the cake (trust me, it wasn’t my choice).

We changed clothes and got on the road as soon as possible. We opted for a late (and healthy) dinner of McDonald’s drive through food.

Along with half of Oklahoma.

30 minutes later, and we were back on the highway.

We got home about midnight, unloaded the car, and went to sleep!

We were back at it just a wink later. This time we were headed to the complete opposite end of the state to celebrate a 90th birthday party for Will’s grandpa!

Before the party, a large group of us ate lunch together at his grandparent’s house. Will’s parents had an equally late night in Tulsa, so we were all a little tired. Nonetheless, it was nice to see that side of the family too.

Basically two family reunions in a single weekend!

The birthday party was so much fun! I love Will’s family so much and am so thankful I married into such a good one.

And yes, I made a point to have cake at this celebration since I didn’t the night before.

So yeah, two major events across opposite ends of the state in a single weekend. It was a busy one.

As for other travels, I mentioned my DC trip earlier.

When I was out of town, poor Lucy missed me so much!

Which is surprising, considering Will is her absolute favorite.

Anyway, we’re one or those families that let our dog sleep with us.

However, the whole time I was gone, Lucy wouldn’t sleep in the bed! Will would try, but she’d act funny and just end up on he floor all night. Sad!

Since we’re talking dog stuff...

We’ve been taking the pups for walks outside.

I know this probably isn’t mind blowing to you, but trust me, it is.

Aside from running around in the back yard every now and then, our Littles haven’t spent much time outside.

They’re very pampered pups and still have puppy soft paws. 🙈

Yep. Those dog people.

Anyway, these old dogs are like total puppies when we go! It’s adorable and so funny. They do such a good job on their leashes and are quite popular with the neighborhood.

Flickr Things
So you might have noticed my Flickr feed is gone.

I received a creepy message from someone about my pictures and thought it was probably time to make everything on my account private!

The problem, though, is that it means nothing comes up in my Flickr feed.

And all my 3 friends who read this won’t be able to see all the exciting pictures of my dogs, things I eat, and OU football games.

I figure I’ll do photo dumps from time to time here, but I figured I should address the lack of pictures on the right hand side of the old blog!

Workouts

One of the perks of my new job is that I no longer have to get up at 4:00 to get in a weekday workout.

It was so hard to do it before, and I drastically changed my workout schedule because of it, dropping down to only two weekday workouts. Of course, I’d save my long workouts for the weekend, but I definitely hated only working out twice during the week. Sleep is just as important, though, so I made it work and adjusted my diet.

With the new job, I eventually plan on increasing my weekday workouts to three. I’ve been doing a variety of at-home workouts during the week. Every time is different.

Right now I’m loving YouTube’s Millionaire Hoy workouts. He’s got a series called “BOOM” right now and it’s so much darn fun- and quick. Perfect for weekdays.

Other things I feel you have to know

Will and I have been watching Full House on Nick at Night like they’re going out of style.

Not gonna lie, while I loved it growing up, it’s kind of lost its luster for me.

I’ve watched them all way too many times.

Kinda like Saved By the Bell.

Anyway, Will cracks me up because he’s way more into it than I am. It’s kind of cute.

***
So, at my previous job I worked downtown where you had access to everything you needed.

We had a Friday tradition of walking somewhere to get breakfast first thing in the morning. It was such a fun treat! I’ve decided to keep the tradition alive by getting coffee every Friday on my way to work.

Not exactly as fun as breakfast with friends, but still a treat nonetheless.

I told Will I want to become a Friday regular where I go. “Like- I want them to know my name and what I get.”

Goals, ya’ll.

***
We had quite possibly the most disastrous/hilarious Mother’s Day ever, but unfortunately I don’t think Will is going to let me share it with you guys.

Still too fresh.

Maybe next year?

***

Speaking of holidays, we watched a fireworks show with my parents and Layla last weekend and it was so nice! We brought the Bigs, and they were very well behaved. Poor guys, they get scared by the noise, but they did well having us nearby.

***
I’m doing Priscilla Shirer’s Armor of
God study this summer with a group online and is is so so good.

When I was younger, I used to pray on the armor every single day.

Then one day I stopped. I let my guard down and became so very vulnerable to satan’s schemes. I was easy fodder.

As the Lord drew me back to Him, I’ve diligently prayed on the armor every single day for the past few years. I need to be clothed in it and ready for spiritual warfare every single day.

This study is such a good wake up call and reminder that we face a very real adversary who wants to destroy our Christian walk. We can’t make it easy for him!

Turns out, the company was everything I thought it would be, and more. Pinch me.

Seriously.

The Lord began preparing my heart for the move during the fall of 2013, and it was worth the wait.

I couldn’t believe I got to work there everyday. Everything was perfect.

Then, the bottom dropped in the oil market.

We nervously watched it go lower, and lower, and lower, hitting below $27 a barrel at the beginning of the year.

How did we get here so quickly?

It was grim, and we all knew it.

Previously, my company never had a layoff due to commodity pricing, but we knew it was probably inevitable.

In January, they announced what we all feared-a large scale layoff due to commodity pricing.

Have you ever been through something like that?

It takes an emotional toll on a person. As the newbie, I was convinced I would be let go.

Office chatter was tense. Each person had resigned themselves to the fact that they were on “the list” for reasons x,y, and z.

I trusted the Lord and spent much time on my knees in my closet, crying out to Him. Telling Him I would trust Him “when” it happened.

And then it happened.

Only, I was blessed enough to get to keep my job.

It’s funny how we can convince ourselves we know what God is doing, and then He up and surprises us.

Staying was a huge blessing, but in a way far differently than I anticipated.

After the layoffs, things were vey different. I quickly decided a few things I had ignored for a long time weren’t going to be as easy to ignore.

Skipping ahead a little, I began to pray about whether I was supposed to stay where I was.

I didn’t want to leave, but I continued to see evident signs that the Lord had another plan.

Through a series of His orchestrated hands, I reached out to a former coworker about a possible opportunity with a new company.

A conversation with him led to a conversation with my former boss, and when all was said and done, a position was created for me at my former company and I had the opportunity to return.

There was a lot of prayer and long conversations with Will in between, but for the sake of this post I think I’ve covered the gist.

I turned in my notice two weeks ago, and finished up work this week.

It was hard to leave because I truly loved where I was. However, I know the Lord was at work in these events.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned these last two years, it’s that trust and obedience in the Lord are beautiful things (but they’re not always easy!).

I know in my heart I am going where I’m supposed to be, but that doesn’t mean I won’t miss my new friends.

I bid farewell to my friends and coworkers Thursday. One of my friends took me out to Cool Greens for lunch that day.

I thought it was fitting, bringing everything to full circle.

A good way to close out one chapter and begin another.

I was so sad to leave my previous job in 2014, but as I drove off Thursday I was actually ok. I’m sad to leave friends, but no tears were shed and I honestly don’t feel that sad. I know I’m going where I’m supposed to.

That’s a good feeling.

I start my “second first day” Monday.

I was off Friday, and Will and I took the opportunity to make a quick trip to Perkins for pie and muffins.

Because how else would you celebrate a new job when you’re an 87 year old living in a 30-something’s body?!

Exactly.

So yeah, big life changes. Again.

I wanted to capture everything here while it was fresh on my mind. I like having this space for things like this.

I also think I might check in a little more often than I have been, how about that!?

Had I know how “epic” it truly was, I probably would have taken more pictures.

Like many of you, I grew up listening to Prince.

The world remains rocked about his death, outpouring reflective tweets, pictures, and posts.

Heartbroken over a musical genius.

Anguished about his greatness and the hole he will forever leave in the music industry.

My heart grieves his death from a completely different aspect.

I (obviously) didn’t know Prince.

I don’t know his heart, or who he was in his quiet moments.

I don’t know what he thought about before he went to sleep, or who he was when no one was watching.

Though he was a Jehovah’s Witness, who do not believe Jesus to be equal with God or able to atone for the sins of man, I don’t know if perhaps he did believe in Jesus. The true Prince of Peace.

I don’t know.

And so I grieve based solely on the fruits of what I do know.

Remembering life is short.

Remembering the things this world holds dear, that what they love as treasures, are so different than that which our Savior holds dear.

Remembering the things of this world shall pass away, but the Word of our God shall last forever.

That, for the most part, the movies, music, and trappings we enjoy will burn as chaff in His fire one day.

I don’t want to be remembered for my contributions in this fleeting world, no matter how great they may be (and trust me, I live a very small life and will never be esteemed as one who offered “brilliance").

I want to be remembered as a girl who loved God.

Who, despite my huge mistakes, was changed by His grace and truly, fully, wholeheartedly loved Him because of it.

Who lived a life that was devoted to Him, and who left the souls of man forever changed for eternity because of it.

When I die one day, the world will not be full of saddened tweets about how I changed history.

In fact, in the grand scheme of the entire world, very few people will even know it happened.

I don’t want to change history.

I want to change eternity.

I don’t want to live for this moment.

I want to live forever.

So when I see the world grieving the loss of a musical giant, I grieve because they’re saddened over the wrong things.

I’m not saying it’s wrong to be sad, please don’t misunderstand. We all mourn the deaths of those we love.

It’s all about perspective.

One day we will stand before our Lord to give an account.

In spite of the fact everyone wants to believe we all worship the same God and just get to Him on different paths, there’s only one true God.

One true Path.

I realize these words probably don’t make sense to most.

However, for the few who know where I’m coming from, remember life is short.

May we not let the trappings of this life steal our eyes from our true Treasure.

To my fellow Christians, I implore you to live a life devoted to His work.

May we be more saddened over the loss of souls than music.

In keeping with Colossians 3, may we set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.